Method and apparatus for crimping filamentary materials



P J.E. SPALDING) Ef AL 2,407,108

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Filed Oct. 4, 1941 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .JUHN E. SPALJJ/NE BY DAN E. W/EKER ATTCIR'N 'se t. 3, '1946. 2,407,108

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS J. E. SPALDING ET AL Filed Oct. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTUIPN Patented Sept. 3, 1946 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING FILAMENTARY MATERIALS JohnE. Spalding, Nitro, and Dan B. Wicker, Dun- .bar, W. Va., assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

Delaware Del., a corporation of Application October 4, 1941, Serial No. 413,702

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to crimping filamentary material, especiallyin the form of staple fiber.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel method of crimping staple fibers and to provide novel apparatus for efiectuating the method. Further objects of the invention will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter.

In the drawings, illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of apparatus of the invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1, partially in cross -section,

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of a modified form of apparatus, and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 3.

In general, the method of the invention comprises imparting a high velocity to a staple fiber bundle longitudinally thereof and causing the bundle to strike endwise against an obstruction. The impact gives rise to compressive forces which effect a crimping of the fibers along their length. The fibers may be softened b the application of a suitable softening agent before crimping and they may have the crimp set therein afterwards by removal of the softening agent. If desired, other velocity components may be imparted to the' fiber bundle, it being only important that one component of the compound velocit imparted to the staple fiber bundle be longitudinally thereof and that the obstruction be arranged so that the impact occurs substantially endwise of the bundle Any suitable means may be employed for carrying out the method. For example, the staple fiber bundles may be fed one at a time by means of an air jet through a radial channel in a rotat ing disk operating within a stationary peripheral. sleeve having an aperture adjacent a suitable stationary ballle so that the bundle is released with a high longitudinal velocity into contact with the baflle. If desired, a casing may be arranged around a centrifugal disk of the type shown in the drawings in such a manner that the fiber bundles thrown from the disk impinge,

against one of the corners inside the casing endwise against one wall and flat against the other. A preferred arrangement for carrying out the invention is shown in the drawings wherein the cutting and crimping of the staple fiber bundle f materialprojects and adjacent the end of which it is out once every revolution by the knife 5. The disk 2 is supported in the bearings 6 and l and is rotated by means of the shaft 8 upon which is fixed by pulley 9 operated by means of'a motor not shown. Nearby the cutting position, there is provided a flanged drum I0 mounted for rotation upon the shaft l l which is provided with the pulley I! for operation by means of a belt and motor not shown and mounted in bearings 13 and M in position above the open end of a duct 15 for conveying the cut and crimped fibers from the scene of operation. A suitable pipe connection I6 is provided with a flexible connection IT to asupply of compressed air and is provided also with a slot-like nozzle l8 arranged adjacent the periphery of the drum to blow any fibers sticking thereto down into the open end of the duct.

The path of travel of the cut fiber bundle is designated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, and several distinct fiber bundles are shown following each other through the various positions until impingement against the flange and the periphery of the drum ll! takes place. As will be noted, the position of the fiber bundle is such at the time of impingement as to be substantiall endwise with respect to the flange l9 and substantialb parallel to the body of the drum l0. While simultaneous impingement of the fiber bundle laterally against the periphery of the drum at the time of impingement endwise against the flange is not essential, nevertheless, it greatly enhances the crimping effect by preventing the compressive forces to be expended in merely bending the bundle as a unit. The flanged drum I0 is rotated at a speed suflicient to provide a fresh space on the periphery for the next fiber bundle. The rotation of the drum I0 is such as to direct the fiber bundle downwards into the duct 15.

If desired, the filamentary material may be softened before it enters the cutter in order to assist the crimping action effected upon impingement against the flanged drum H). In such event, the fiber bundle may stick to the periphery of the drum until it approaches the air jet from the nozzle l8, which acts as a clearer 0f the periphery of the drum Hi.

In Figures 3 and 4, a. modified embodiment is shown in which the obstruction or bafile is more closely adjacent the position of cutting of the fiber bundle. In these figures, the rotating disk 2 for feeding the filamentary material to the knife 5 is mounted in a support for rotation by a pulley 9 operated by a belt and motor not shown, the knife being mounted upon. a bracket 3 20 extending from the duct 2| of oval shape, above the opening of which the flanged drum I is mounted upon the cross shaft ll provided with a pulley I2 to be driven by a belt and motor not shown so that the periphery and flange surface of the drum are in close proximity to the position of cutting of the staple fiber bundle.' In this embodiment, the staple fiber bundle comes into substantially immediate contact with the flange surface after cutting, and, should it be in a softened condition so that it tends to stick to the periphery of the drum, it is removed at the bottom thereof by means of the doctor blade 22 hearing against the surface of the periphery of the drum.

The methods and apparatus of the invention are applicable to any type of natural or artificial fiber, such as regenerated cellulose, cellulose esters and ethers, vinyl resins, etc.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, the description is intended to be illustrative only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a method of crimping textile fibers of spinnable length, the steps of imparting a high longitudinal velocity to a compact bundle thereof and causing the moving bundle to collide substantially endwise against an obstruction.

2. In a method of crimping textile fibers of spinnable length, the steps of imparting a complex high velocity toa compact bundle thereof comprising longitudinal and lateral components and causing the moving bundle to collide substantially simultaneously endwise against one surface and laterally against another surface at right angles to the first surface.

3. In a method of treating filamentary material, the steps of feeding said filamentary material longitudinally through a'path having a portion rotating bodily about one end thereof as an axis, repeatedly cutting a fiber bundle from the free end of the bodily rotatingportion, and

presenting a fresh surface of an obstruction to each of said bundles so that the bundles impinge substantially endwise thereagainst.

4. In a method of treating filamentary material, the steps of feeding said filamentary material. longitudinally through a path having a portion rotating bodily about one end thereof as an axis, repeatedly cutting a fiber bundle from the free end of the bodily rotating portion, and presenting a fresh surface of a re-entrant rightanglcd obstruction to each of said bundles so that the bundles impinge substantially endwise and laterally thereagainst.

5. In a method of treating filamentary material, the steps of softening said filamentary material, cutting said filamentary material into compact bundles of fibers, imparting a high longitudinal velocity to a bundle thereof and causing the moving bundle to collide substantially endwise against an obstruction to crimp them and then setting said fibers.

6. In a method of treating filamentary material, softening said filamentary material, cutting said filamentary material into compact bundles of fibers, imparting a complex high velocity to a bundle thereof comprising longitudinal and lateral components, causing the moving bundle to collide substantially simultaneously endwise against one surface and laterally against another surface at right angles to the first surface, and then setting said fibers.

7. In combination, means for imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a compact bundle of fibers and an obstruction arranged in the path of said bundle presenting a surface substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of movement of said bundle so that the bundle collides substantially endwise against the surface of the obstruction.

' 8. In combination, means for imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a compact bundle of fibers and a rotatable flanged drum arranged in the path of the bundle to present its peripheral surface and its adjacent flange surface to the moving fiber bundle so that the bundle'collides substantially endwise against the flange.

9; In combination, means for imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a compact bundle of fibers, an obstruction arranged in the path of aid bundle presenting a surface substantially at right angles to th longitudinal direction of movement of said bundle so that the bundle collides substantially endwise against the surface of the obstruction, and means for clearing said obstruction of any fibers sticking thereto.

10. In combination, means for imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a compact bundle of fibers, a rotatable flanged drum arranged to present its peripheral surface and its adjacent flange surface to the moving fiber bundle so that the bundle collides substantially endwise against one of the surfaces of the flange, and means for clearing said flanged drum.

11. In combination, a centrifugal cutting device for simultaneously cutting filamentary material and imparting a velocity comprising a longitudinal component to the fiber bundle cut therefrom, and an obstruction arranged in the path of said bundle substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of movement of said bundle.

12. In combination, a centrifugal cutting device for simultaneously cutting filamentary material and imparting a velocity comprising a longitudinal component to the fiber bundle cut therefrom and a rotatable flanged drum arranged to present its peripheral surface and its adjacent flanged surface to the moving fiber bundle.

13. In combination, a centrifugal cutting device for simultaneously cutting filamentary material and imparting a velocity comprising a longitudinal component to the fiber cut therefrom, a rotatable flanged drum arranged to present its peripheral surface and'its adjacent flanged surface to the moving fiber bundle, and means for clearing said flanged drum.

14. In a method of crimping textile fibers of spinnable length, the steps of imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a discontinuous compact bundle thereof and causing the moving bundle to collide against an obstruction at an inclination to a lateral direction.

15. In a method of treating filamentary material, the steps of feeding said filamentary material longitudinally through a path having a portion rotating bodily about one end thereof as an axis, repeatedly cutting a fiber bundle from the free end of the bodily rotating portion, and presenting a fresh surface of an obstruction to each of said bundles so that the bundles impinge thereagainst at an inclination to a lateral direction.

16, In combination, means for imparting a high velocity comprising a longitudinal component to a compact bundle of fibers and an obstruction arranged in the path of said bundle presenting a surface inclined to the longitudinal direction of movement of said bundl so that the bundle collides substantially endwise against the surface of the obstruction.

therefrom, and an obstruction arranged in the path of said bundle inclined to the longitudinal direction of movement of said bundle.

JOHN E. SPALDING. DAN B. WICKER. 

